Merab Dvalishvili Admits Taking Down UFC Champ Ilia Topuria Is Impossible

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Merab Dvalishvili Admits Taking Down UFC Champ Ilia Topuria Is Impossible

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Pavan Sharma | Last updated May 31, 2026 4:12 PM ET

MMA used to be simpler. Legends like Khabib Nurmagomedov took people down and hit them just with a one-dimensional fighting style. That was enough to dominate the sport. But, not anymore. Now, a fighter who can wrestle, strike, and grapple all at a dangerous level. Even Merab Dvalishvili, one of the best wrestlers alive, has come out and said Ilia Topuria is no joke on the ground.

Undoubtedly, Topuria has incredible power. He knocked out top fighters like Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. But Topuria is not just a puncher. According to Merab Dvalishvili, one of the best wrestlers in MMA, he could not take Topuria down during training, which says a lot about Topuria’s wrestling defense.

“Ilia is so good, I wasn’t able to take him down. It’s impossible to take Ilia down, he has great takedown defense. He is so strong with wrestling and striking,” Dvalishvili said.

Merab Dvalishvili can’t take down Ilia Topuria in training and says it’s ‘impossible’

“Ilia is so good, I wasn’t able to take him down. It’s impossible to take Ilia down, he has great takedown defence.”

(via @MerabDvalishvil) pic.twitter.com/OrnUZgM4Mk
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 31, 2026

Coming from someone like Dvalishvili, who carries real weight. This is a fighter who has smothered elite fighters with his relentless grappling. If he can’t get Topuria to the mat, most people on the planet can’t either. Meanwhile, Topuria is now set to defend his lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 250.

Merab Dvalishvili Warns Islam Makhachev, Saying Ilia Topuria Is A Problem On The Ground Too

Dvalishvili didn’t stop there. He also weighed in on the much-discussed potential matchup between Topuria and pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev. And his take was blunt. “If Makhachev takes Ilia down, he won’t be able to hold Ilia down. Makhachev is a great fighter. I think he can beat everybody at 170 except Ilia because styles make fight,” Dvalishvili said.

Merab Dvalishvili believes Islam Makhachev won’t be able to hold Ilia Topuria down.

“If Makhachev takes Ilia down, he won’t be able to hold Ilia down. Makhachev is a great fighter. I think he can beat everybody at 170 except Ilia because styles make fights, and Ilia’s style is… pic.twitter.com/KXDWj6a5Sd
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) May 31, 2026

Dvalishvili knows better than almost anyone what Topuria looks like under pressure on the mat. And his verdict is that even Makhachev’s world-class grappling wouldn’t be enough to keep him there. For a fighter whose entire game is built around controlling opponents on the ground, that’s a significant problem.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: